ASUS P5W DH - Problems + Fixes Thread

[John600rr]

A lot of people on boards seem to swap out boards like they were changing socks. I have a question.. When I get my board stable...I have tons of settings, program installs (maybe 15 must have programs for me)..bookmarks (I know these are easy to save) etc. Does everyone do a fresh OS install...What is your method for swapping out a board... Does anyone do a swap with the old install intact...i.e. a Windows Repair install. I would be fascinated because many times for me it is not the cost but the headache of losing a night's sleep having to rebuild the new board to the way I used to have it and the way I liked it.

You can sometimes get away with a repair install when changing mobos. Depends on chipset usually, but it's kinda a crap shoot. I always format and reinstall.

I look at it two ways:

1. Your changing motherboard every 6 months or more: Just do a format and reinstall since you could probably use on anyway.

2. Your changing your motherboard less than every 6 months: You've got the cash to setup a second low cost system and set it up the way you want and then set up your extreme rig and change mobos like mad.

[purecain]

can reach 450 with later revision boards from G0AAY onwards ...... definatly swapping them out... then wait for the x38. i thought about just giving my m8 my board and using his money to get an ip35 but i'm not sure.... any thoughts...?????

[w2richwood]

since this board will use the new 45mn chips lets see how well they work on this board may work better then b3 and go.s work on the board

[kensweep]

A lot of people on boards seem to swap out boards like they were changing socks. I have a question.. When I get my board stable...I have tons of settings, program installs (maybe 15 must have programs for me)..bookmarks (I know these are easy to save) etc. Does everyone do a fresh OS install...What is your method for swapping out a board... Does anyone do a swap with the old install intact...i.e. a Windows Repair install. I would be fascinated because many times for me it is not the cost but the headache of losing a night's sleep having to rebuild the new board to the way I used to have it and the way I liked it.

Mate you raise a very important issue. When one considers the time it takes to configure and install everything, you'd be nuts to want to waste that time again, it can be literally days over time.

Well I have good news for you. Without wanting to sound like a viagra salesman (though PM if you want that - joke) there's a 100% reliable solution.

Acronis True Image with Universal Restore.

As long as you have made a backup using TI of your preferred setup - and if you haven't, you should have on day one anyway - ATI w UR *ALWAYS* lets you restore your Windows image to any PC hardware. Saves taking a chance. Saves reinstalling the 97-odd security updates released since XP SP2 if you use XP's Repair function. Costs money of course.

UR uses Windows' generic drivers to allow you to boot. Then soon as you install the chipset drivers everything's hunky dorey. In my case it takes 10 mins.

With respect to the person who replied to you first, because I appreciate we all use PCs differently, you'd be mad to want to reinstall all your again. It can take an age. There's no need if you have a clean reliable backup.

Peace.

Now someone help me with my PCI issue please!

[mlbspike]

A nice option ... only downside being the price. $100 isn't outrageous ... I may spring for it, if I wind up doing this more than twice a year, but for now I'll stick with ghost 2003 ... yes, I have to do a repair install ... but I've got decent broadband ... the Windows updates didn't take an excessive amount of time ... Moved a work machine from an old intel MB, with a 3.8 processor, to a P5K deluxe, with a Q6600, with little trouble. More interesting test comes next ... moving from P5WDH (motherboard Silicon Image raid0) to P5K deluxe, raid0. hmmm.
And why not install from scratch ... dozens of programs, with associated keys, serial numbers, and/or passwords ... in my case at least ... a nightmare.

[BulldogPO]

Just flashed in bios 2302 and everything woks just as fine it did with bios 2004.

[nrs250]

Mate you raise a very important issue. When one considers the time it takes to configure and install everything, you'd be nuts to want to waste that time again, it can be literally days over time.

Well I have good news for you. Without wanting to sound like a viagra salesman (though PM if you want that - joke) there's a 100% reliable solution.

Acronis True Image with Universal Restore.

As long as you have made a backup using TI of your preferred setup - and if you haven't, you should have on day one anyway - ATI w UR *ALWAYS* lets you restore your Windows image to any PC hardware. Saves taking a chance. Saves reinstalling the 97-odd security updates released since XP SP2 if you use XP's Repair function. Costs money of course.

UR uses Windows' generic drivers to allow you to boot. Then soon as you install the chipset drivers everything's hunky dorey. In my case it takes 10 mins.

With respect to the person who replied to you first, because I appreciate we all use PCs differently, you'd be mad to want to reinstall all your again. It can take an age. There's no need if you have a clean reliable backup.

Peace.

Now someone help me with my PCI issue please!

Are you using Acronis True Image 10 ? I have that one.

[WeldZilla]

Hey ken just go back to the device manager hi-lite the device and delete it right there in the dvice manager second icon from the right. then reboot. See if windows detects new hardware and go from there. if it doesn't then don't worry about it. Core temp is a good way to keep an accurate track of your cpu temps. Don't make this harder than it is, you needn't try to add your temp sensors. If you are on air and want better cooling stuff more air to it then you ever dreamed it needed.
I just updated my bios from 2004 to 2206. It works perfectly without any glitches that I can find. guys I recommend that you go to the Asus site down load the bios you want to your system use win-rar or what have you to get to the file then put it in a folder or on your desktop then open the Asus updater and update from the file do not update throught the net. Heavy traffic at the site or even your local provider can make it take too long to get the package. So have it on your system ready and update from File. As for what speed to install it, well I did my install of the bios yesterday while running at my daily clock of 3825mhz. Install it where ever you are stable. On reboot of course that is all gone but you have to go det up your bios again anyway.

Well it is now Sunday afternoon and after playing now for many hours with this new bios (2206) I decided it is much weaker than (2004). 2206 won't let you OC as far as 2004 but, I am planning on getting a 6600GO here soon so I need a newer bios. I went ahead and loaded 2301 and it feels much stronger right out the gate. I am going to spend some time with it and see how it feels. I believe 22xx bios' are going to be remembered as weak. I am running the 2301 at my daily clock of 425 and have been for a couple hours. I have benched and rendered some video at the same time and so far so good.
While I was messing with this new bios today I set a new personal high on 3D03. It's all good.....

Then when I finished that new high. I set another new personal high

[p5wdh]

anyone have a higher cpu frequency for core2duo e6750 (2.66 default)? if higher than 3.6, what is your manual settings for vdimm, vcore,mcg,ich,etc? thanks in advance

[lawrywild]

after playing now for many hours with this new bios (2206) I decided it is much weaker than (2004). 2206 won't let you OC as far as 2004 but, I am planning on getting a 6600GO here soon so I need a newer bios.

You didn't try my 2004 G0/45nm Edition bios?

[BulldogPO]

anyone have a higher cpu frequency for core2duo e6750 (2.66 default)? if higher than 3.6, what is your manual settings for vdimm, vcore,mcg,ich,etc? thanks in advance

Try 2302.

[MarcusTaz]

2301, there is no 2302, correct me if I am wrong...

[kensweep]

Thank you very much WeldZilla for your suggestion. Sadly it comes back from the dead on reboot/scanning for hardware changes, like some kind of annoying zombie. Maybe there's some way to find out what Windows is reading from the device, because Windows has no idea what it is; it asks me!, if I go to the next step of installing drivers.

Hey nrs250, I use TI 9.1 Workstation with UR, I don't think TI Home 10 offers UR. I used the v10 demo, it's got even more features, some useful.

[WeldZilla]

Hey ken you know when the new bios is loaded and checked and it is time to reboot. Are you going in and telling your bios what your configuration is?

Example: As soon as I reboot the very first thing I have to do is on the main page of the bios is scroll down to IDE Configuration. hit enter and then arrow tab it to Raid and again hit "Enter" so the bios will see my RaidO array and then my OS. I am curious to know after your bios install what you are doing so everything you need to have recognized, is.

So are you leaving something on that does not exist? Is there something plugged that you have not accounted for?

You know lawry I did not not even try it. Hey don't take it hard. I may end up back there. I got to tell you though that this is one decent bios so far as far as my E6600 is concerned.

WZ

[happ]

You didn't try my 2004 G0/45nm Edition bios?

I tried your bios. But I noticed something strange under Vista Ultimate x64. My machine was prime95 stable but not "x264 stable". It means it could run prime95 test for 10 hours, but not x264 video encoding for 15 minutes. Besides this encoding was to slow for 4 cores processor, almost the same speed as my old E6600. Furthermore, Everest CPU tests results were to low, on C2 Duo level, too. During the tests CPU usage was 100% only for two cores. For other two where only around 50%.

I have dual boot machine and all above I noticed under Vista Ultimate 64. Under Windows XP Pro SP2 x32 video encoding and Everest CPU test was normal for Quad core processor. I flash bios to 2301 and now x264 video encoding speed and Everest CPU tests results under x64 Vista are on the XP 32 level. Although I can't oc my quad any better than with your bios, now is at least "x264" stable and use all four cores for encoding and Everest benching.

It seems Asus made new bios for GO stepping processors with a reason.

[mikepaul]

My machine was prime95 stable but not "x264 stable". It means it could run prime95 test for 10 hours, but not x264 video encoding for 15 minutes.

This comes up for other reasons.

My defective power supply limits me to 30% OC now (never updated my sig) because at full OC it will pass Orthos tests galore but die doing video conversion. A working 450W power supply providing maybe 200W tops shouldn't cause random system crashes.

I'm giving up waiting for Amazon to 'find' the PSU I ordered. It appears they mis-priced the item then decided to delay until I cancel rather than just cancel the order themselves. The extra $50 I'll have to pay above what they SAID they'd charge will have to come from future anywhere-but-Amazon orders...

[gwolfman]

http://event.asus.com/mb/45nm/

Finally on the '45nm-list'. Good news.

Bios 0203 must be a typo??

You're right, looks like they updated it.

Digital Home Series
P5W DH Deluxe - Intel 975X/ICH7R - 1333 - BIOS 2302 and later

[gwolfman]

Here is the link for the radiator:
http://www.dangerden.com/store/home.php?cat=84

Here is a link for a guide on modding (all credit to this guy who did it first):

http:/http://forums.legitreviews.com...4364f4b1834fbf


He used the Black Ice Extreme and felt it was too big. I agree and took his advice and went with the Black Ice Pro from DangerDen. The Extreme is very think and placing it back in the case, while doable, is very tough.

You will need the blue poly-elbows he describes and a dremel to mod the fan housing. Kathi at Danger Den is very helpful and will send you the right stuff if you ask.

Sweet, I'll look into it, thanks!

[miochza]

Those who were looking around for the 2302 BIOS BulldogPO was talking about, and will support 45 nm:

2302 Beta BIOS

[Mixman]

I have a P5W DH and a OCZ520ADJ SLI.

I just put my old system into a new case. It did work for 6 mos together. Now in order to get it started I have to flick th power switch on the psu. It then comes on. Once on, it will stay on and work fine, but a few minutes after shutdown and I cannot power the system on without using the PSU power switch and then it comes on automatically and boots up. The green light on the motherboard does stay on. I checked all of the connections for a short and cannot find one.

Is my motherboard bad ?

[gwolfman]

(First off, disregard the CPU is too hot! error)

I'm testing a QX6700 in my motherboard 333FSB x 10 multiplier and had to up the voltage in the BIOS to 4.325V but runs @ ~4.16V. When I ran OOCT with the voltage set lower, it would error out right about when the vCore seemed to drop to 1.35. Does the following image illustrate what is known as vdroop?




What does the following picture represent with the 12v going up and down like that?

[~aoe~]

I have a P5W DH and a OCZ520ADJ SLI.

I just put my old system into a new case. It did work for 6 mos together. Now in order to get it started I have to flick th power switch on the psu. It then comes on. Once on, it will stay on and work fine, but a few minutes after shutdown and I cannot power the system on without using the PSU power switch and then it comes on automatically and boots up. The green light on the motherboard does stay on. I checked all of the connections for a short and cannot find one.

Is my motherboard bad ?

I recently had a strange problem with another motherboard. Whilst not the same problem, it was sort of similar.

After changing the CPU and chipset heatsinks on my 2nd system (Opteron 170 on A8N32-SLi), I tried to increase my OC by upping the voltages. I wasn't able to get the system stable, so dropped back to the previous OC. However, after these changes, the PC was unable to fully switch off. Windows would fully close down, but the fans would just keep spinning until I switched off the PSU. The same problem occurred when trying to Restart (would hang in BIOS with all fans spinning).

After trying to increase the OC again, I had a boot failure that reset the BIOS to defaults. After this, the problem disappeared. Even after reapplying the OC settings in BIOS, the problem was gone.

Long story, but I think it was something in BIOS that was causing this problem, and by resetting to defaults, it seems to have fixed it. May be worth trying.

[BulldogPO]

Seems like this 2302 beta is best bios so far, at least for me.
I can now drive my Q6600@3.2GHz with 1.375Vcore, and with old bios (2004) it required 1.475V to be 100% stable.

[Nitrium]

I have a P5W DH and a OCZ520ADJ SLI.

I just put my old system into a new case. It did work for 6 mos together. Now in order to get it started I have to flick th power switch on the psu. It then comes on. Once on, it will stay on and work fine, but a few minutes after shutdown and I cannot power the system on without using the PSU power switch and then it comes on automatically and boots up. The green light on the motherboard does stay on. I checked all of the connections for a short and cannot find one.

Is my motherboard bad ?

I've started to have the same problem two weeks ago, but it doesn't happens always. I'm starting to think that the motherboard is faulty. I've already checked all connections too and didn't find any problem.

[Mixman]

I recently had a strange problem with another motherboard. Whilst not the same problem, it was sort of similar.

After changing the CPU and chipset heatsinks on my 2nd system (Opteron 170 on A8N32-SLi), I tried to increase my OC by upping the voltages. I wasn't able to get the system stable, so dropped back to the previous OC. However, after these changes, the PC was unable to fully switch off. Windows would fully close down, but the fans would just keep spinning until I switched off the PSU. The same problem occurred when trying to Restart (would hang in BIOS with all fans spinning).

After trying to increase the OC again, I had a boot failure that reset the BIOS to defaults. After this, the problem disappeared. Even after reapplying the OC settings in BIOS, the problem was gone.

Long story, but I think it was something in BIOS that was causing this problem, and by resetting to defaults, it seems to have fixed it. May be worth trying.

Tried a total cmos reset and am using default settings. The system still will not start up without me "jumpstarting" the psu. I bumped into another P5W DH owner who is having similar problems. Hmmm.....

At first I was leaning at a psu solution, but once I get the system jumpstarted, it works fine. I can even overclock by a good amount. I think if the psu was faulty, I would be able to do that. I am just dreading spending the money to get another board right now.